The genetics influencing seed cone initiation and development in Picea abies : how a SNP changed everything

Sammanfattning

Picea abies is an economically important forest tree that commonly dominates Swedish boreal forests. Its tendency towards infrequent seed cone-setting, and therefore low seed production, has been a challenge for research, breeding, and industry. In order to better understand what processes are involved in initiation and development of seed cones, we took a variety of approaches: First we provided evidence that a mutation in the combined microRNA156/529 binding site of gene encoding a SQUAMOSA BINDING PROTEIN LIKE transcription factor (PaSPL1) is the causal factor in the early cone-setting phenotype of the acrocona mutant (Paper I). The mutation in the miR156/529 binding site leads to a misregulation of PaSPL1 transcripts which promotes female reproductive development and early cone-setting. Second, we performed Spatial Transcriptomics (ST) experiments to create a spatiotemporal atlas of gene expression during early stages of shoot primordia development. In these experiments, we collected vegetative, seed cone, and acrocona transition shoot primordia at three time points during development (Paper II). The development of different tissues and gene expression within the different bud types were described and led to the identification of four tissue domains with distinct expression profiles. A ShinyApp was developed to allow easy navigation of gene expression in all bud types and time points. Third, we studied the natural variation in cone-setting ability and effects of Gibberellic Acid (GA) injections in a seed orchard (Paper III). Seed cone production, hormone concentration, and gene expression between treatments and genotypes were analyzed.

Nyckelord

Picea abies; Norway spruce; acrocona; PaSPL1; miRNA; Spatial Transcriptomics; seed cone; GA; Gibberellin; seed orchard; development; initiation

Publicerad i

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae
2024, nummer: 2024:101
Utgivare: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

SLU författare

• Zivi, Nathan

  • Institutionen för växtbiologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Genetik
Botanik
Cell- och molekylärbiologi

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.54612/a.2sng9j6apb
• ISBN: 978-91-8046-485-7
• eISBN: 978-91-8046-535-9

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/132990